Heat generating apparatus



Dec. 20, 1938'. r I R EORESMAN 2,140,521

HEAT GENERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 3, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l lv a l l 'k Rosam- FTORESMHN -.WITNESSE$= I g INVENTOR- 1938- R. A.FORESMAN HE AT GENERATING APPARATUS Original Filed,Jan. 5, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla-3- INVENTOR 120522:- R .F'mzaswxt-(.

- ATTORNE f Dec. 20; 1938.

A. FORESMAN HEAT GENERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 5, 1936 "4Sheets-Sheet s v INVENTOR Pobem' A. Fozzsmaw BY a ATTORNE Deg 20, 1933.

R; A. FORESMAN HEAT GENERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 3

' INVENTOR Bossier H.FOJ?.$MRN BY Z g ATTORNJM WITNESSES:

Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEAT GENERATINGAPPARATUS of Pennsylvania Application January 3, 1936, Serial No. 57,332

Renewed July 2, 1938 I 18 Claims. (Cl. 122-30) Myinvention relates toheat generating apiparatus, of the type generally disclosed in mycopending application Serial No. 658,334, filed February 24, 1933, andit has for an object to provide improved apparatus of this kind.

A further object of my invention isto provide improved .apparatus ofthis kind which occupies a minimum of space, which may be inexpensivelyconstructed, and which may be operated for relatively long periods witha minimum of attention.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparentfrom the following description and claims taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of my invention,- in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of my improved heat genorator with parts brokenaway for clearness;

- the grate.

Reference will now be had to the drawings in which I have disclosed myimproved heat generator including a heating structure ill for the fluid,to'be heated, such as, for example, water. The

' generator includes a magazine II for fuel, a ro- 1 tatable annulargrate structure I2 and a base I3,

which supports the heating structure orboiler I and which rotatablysupports the grate structure l2.

As best shown in Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive, the boiler l0 includes an outerwall l4 arranged above the perimeter of the grate l2 and having a lowerportion l5 which is substantially co-extensive with the perimeter of thegrate. The wall portion I5 is, however, cut away as shown in Figs?- and3 for defining an ash discharge opening l6 which will be referred tohereinafter. An upper portion ll of the wall I4. is arcuate in shape asbest shown in Figs. 2 and 3; said portion I! being shown substantiallysemi-cylindrical in form. A chordal wall |8 connects the ends of thearcuate wall portion H and, ,as shown, is substantially coextensive withthe diameter of the wall It. The lower portion l5 of the wall I4 isprovided with a horizontal wall member l9 defining a circular segment,the base of which is connected to the chordal wall I8. I

An: inner wall or column 2| is arranged, substantially, in ma relationwith the outer wall 3 II and intermediate the ends of the chordal wallHi. The wall members |4, I8 and I9 and the column 2| are, preferably,provided with communicating spaces for the fluid to be heated. Thestructure I0 includes a top wall 22, segmental in shape and connectingthe chordal wall |8 and the column 2| to the upper end of the. arcuatewall H. A radially extending baffle 23 connects the inner and outerwalls I! and 2|; the top of the baflle 23 being spaced from the top wall22 for defining a passage 24 for gases of combustion. The top wall 22and. the radial baffle 23 are, preferably, provided with water spaceswhich communicate with the spaces of the walls with which they connect.Additional heat transfer surface for the boiler maybe provided by one ormore walls 25 having water spaces and arranged between the inner andouter walls l1 and 2|. The wall 25 may be connected to the outer wall Hby nipples 26 as shown'in Fig. 2.

The arrangement of the various walls recited heretofore define acombustion chamber 21 between thechordal wall l8 and the outer wall l4,with'a portion 28 of the chamber 21 extending beneath the horizontalwall I9. A wall 29 having a water space connects the portion l5 of thewall l4 and the inner wall or column 2|, and has a lower portion thereofdisposed adjacent the grate as shown at 3| in Fig. 4. As describedhereinafter the wall 29 may be employed to remove ash from the grate l2and, furthermore, the Wall 29 defines the end of the combustion space28.

An'opening 32 is disposed in the horizontal wall 29 between the wall 29and the chordal wall I8 for passage of fuel to the grate l2, whichoperation will be described hereinafter. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thehorizontal wall l9 may be completely removed between the wall 29 and thechordal wall l8 for defining the opening 32.

The fuel magazine II is disposed adjacent the chordal wall I8 and iselevated with respect to the grate |2 for the gravitational feed of fuelthereto. The magazine H includes, preferably, a container structure 33having a bottom wall 34 which inclines toward the opening 32. Thecontainer 33 may be secured to the chordal wall l8 by means of an angleiron 35, and may be supported by a plate 36 at the front end thereof. Anopening 31 is formed in the bottom wall 34 and registers with theopening 32 for the discharge of the fuel to the grate. Fuel is admittedto the magazine through an opening 35a formed in the front plate 36 andclosed by a door 39.

The grate structure |2 includes a rotatable frame 4| upon which aplurality of grate segments 42 are disposed in side by side relation forsupporting the fuel bed. Suitable openings are provided in the segments42 for passage of air for combustion. The frame 4| is rotatably carriedby the base l3 which includes a platform 43 beneath the grate I2 andwhich is open, as indicated at 44, beneath the fuel burning portion ofthe grate l2 or the portion thereof within the combustion chamber 21.

The base I3 is divided into an ash chamber 45 and a windbox 46 by meansof a partition 41. A duct 48 is formed in the base |3 for conveying airto the windbox 46 as described hereinafter. Air within the windbox 46 isof a pressure somewhat higher than the pressure on the combustionchamber and, in order that leakage of air around the inner and outeredges of the grate is prevented, I provide seals as indicated at 49 and5| (Fig. 4). The seal 5| is defined by an annular groove 52 formed inthe grate|2, within which an arcuate projection 53, preferably formed onthe bottom of wall I5, projects. During operation, ash collects in thegroove 52 and in contact with the projection 53 thereby closing thespace between the grate and the projection 53 and defining the seal. Theinner seal 49 includes a groove 54 formed in the grate l2 and an annularprojection 55 on the inner column 2|; the seal being formed by the ashcollecting in the groove 54 and contacted by the projection 55.

The supply of air for combustion, and rotation of the grate are effectedby a unitary mechanism, generally indicated at 51, and disposed beneatha portion of the magazine structure U. The mechanism 51 includes adriving motor 58, a blower 59 connected to the motor 58, and a speedreducing device 6| driven by the motor 58, preferably, by means of abelt 62; Brackets 63 and 64 may be arranged on the blower for supportingthe motor and speed reducing device, respectively. The unit 51 may besupported in any suitable manner such as, for example, by the frontplate 36 and the heating structure I0; lugs 65 being provided for thispurpose. Suitable pieces of resilient material 66 may be employedbetween the unit 5'! and its supporting lugs 65 for absorbing vibrationsset up by the unit 51, whereby noises due to vibration are substantiallyreduced. Bolts 61 or other suitable means may be employed for attachingthe unit 51 to the lugs 65.

Air discharged by the blower 59 passes through the outlet thereof andinto the duct 48 for de livery to the windbox 46. duit 68 connects theblower 59 and. the duct structure 48, which conduit prevents vibrationsof the blower from being transmitted to the duct 48 and which permitsadjustment of the blower with respect to the duct. I prefer to connectthe conduit and the blower in such manner that they may be readilyconnected and detached. Accordingly, the flexible conduit68 may beexpanded and slipped over the blower and held by friction thereto, or, asuitable clamp may be provided for this purpose.

The speed reducing device 6| which drives the grate l2 includes a slowspeed shaft 69 having a crank pin H, the latter reciprocating aconnecting rod 12 as the shaft 69 rotates. A shaft 13 journalled inthe'base 3, is provided with a crank arm 14 which is oscillated by therod 12 as best shown in Fig. 5. A pawl 75 is actuated by the shaft 13and engages teeth 16 formed on the under face of the grate frame 4|, sothat the A'suitable flexible con-' latter is advanced with eachcounterclockwise movement of the shaft 13. 7

During operation, coal from the magazine moves by gravity through theopening 32 and is deposited upon the grate l2. As the grate advances, ina clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, the coal is levelled off bythe bottom of the chordal wall l8 adjacent the opening 32 and isprogressively burned as the grate passes through the main combustionchamber 27 and the portion 28 thereof; An arch T! is disposed above thegrate 2 in the combustion chamber 21 and extends from the bafile or Wall23 to the chordal wall l8. Gases of combustion pass beneath the arch T!and rise between the chordal wall i8 and the baiiie 23 to the passage 24and then descend toward the top of the arch 17. An outlet 18 for gasesisprovided in the outer wall l4 and communicates with the chamber 21above the arch.

Combustion is substantially completed in the chamber 21 so that only ashremains on the grate as it passes beneath the wall 29. Ash is deflectedoutwardly of the grate by the wall 29 and passes through the opening |6into the chamber 45.

Suitable receptacles 18 may be disposed in the chamber 45 for receivingthe discharged ash. Both receptacles 78 may be filled simultaneously bydisposing a deflecting plate 79 in the chamber portion 28 as shown inFig. 3. Ash from the outer portion of the grate I2 is deflected by theplate 19 into the receptacle 18 disposed therebelow and ash carried byinner portions of the grate is deposited into the receptacle 18 belowthe wall 29.

Water to be heated'may be admitted to the structure l0 through aconnection Bi and heated water or steam is discharged throughconnections 82 which communicate with upper portions of the structurel0. Suitable inspection or access opening 83 having closures 84 may beprovided in the structure l0.

The apparatus as described heretofore is preferably enclosed by a casingstructure 85 which may be formed of sheet material. An opening 86 isarranged in the casing 85 and registers with the opening 38 for theadmission of fuel. Doors 81 are provided in the casing 85 for permittingaccess to the receptacles 18.

The driving mechanism 51 may be readily disconnected from the generatorstructure as a unit and withdrawn from the casing 85 through a suitableopening 88 provided in the side thereof. A cover or door 89 may beemployed for closing the opening 88.

Suitable indicating and controlling instruments 99 may be arranged onthe front of the casing 85 for the conveniences of the operator.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that when assembled, the boiler,the fuel magazine and the driving unit provide a compact heat generatingunit of the annular grate type wherein, a relatively large amount offuel may be stored in the magazine for permitting operation over longperiods with a minimum of attention. The construction of the magazinepermits all, or a major portion of the driving unit to be disposed Theash discharge and ash collecting means are arranged below the magazinestructure, so that the floor area occupied by the apparatus is notincreased due to these means. The height of 70 3 from the magazine tothe grate, a driving unit I for supplying air for combustion to thegrate and 1 extent by the height of boiler employed. Furthermore, theassembly is such that the fuel admission and ash removal openings are onthe same sideof the generator for the convenience of the operator.

My improved generator may be easily serviced 7 due to the unitaryconstruction of the mechanism for supplying air and fordriving thegrate. In the event of failure of any 'partof the driving mechanism, theentire mechanism may be removed as awunit and a new or service unitinstalled for maintaining operation of the generator. Removal of thedriving mechanism is facilitated by providing all of its connections tothe generator readily removable.

While I have shown my invention in but one 7 form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modifications without departing from, the spiritthereof, and I desire,

therefore, that onlysuch limitations shall be placed thereupon as areimposed by the prior art 'or as are specifically set forth in theappended claims.

, What I claim is:

1. In .a mechanically fired heat generator, the combination of arotatable annular grate, .a fluid heating structure cooperating with thegrate and including an arcuate wall aligned substantially in coaxialrelation with the grate and including a wall for connecting the ends ofsaid arcuate wall,

' heated and disposed beneath said last-named means and above the grate,said wall member having an opening therein for passing fuel dischargedby gravity from' the magazine to the grate.

r2. Ina heat 'generatorgthe combination of a rotatable annular grate, afluid heating structure arranged above the grate and including connectedouter wall members for defining a combustion chamber above a firstportion of the grate, a magazine for fuel arranged adjacent the outsideof one of said wall members and above a'second portion of the grate forconveying fuel by gravity tothe grate, and means forrotating the gratedisposed adjacent the outside of the same wall member and spaced,vertically, from said magazine.

. 3. In a mechanically fired heat generator, the

combination of a rotatable annular grate, a fluid heating structurearranged above the grate and including an arcuate wall alignedsubstantially in coaxial relation with the grate and including a wallfor connecting the ends of said arcuate wall,

' said arcuate and connecting walls defining a combustion chamber abovea portion of the grate, a magazine for fuel arranged adjacent saidconnecting wall above a second portion of the grate and'having a portionthereof extending beyond the perimeter of the, grate, said magazineincludf ing bottom walls inclined toward the grate and having a fueldischarge opening arranged therein for the passage of fuel discharged bygravity for actuating the grate, said unit being disposed "adjacent saidconnecting wall and beneath a portion of the magazine, means foradmitting fuel to the magazine and means disposed beneath the magazinefor removing ash from the grate.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3 including a substantiallyhorizontal wall having a space therein for fluid to be heated forseparating the magazine from the portion of the grate disposedtherebeneath; said horizontal wall having an opening therein for passingfuel discharged by gravity from said magazine to the grate.

5. In a mechanically fired heat generator, the combination of an annulargrate, a heating structure disposed above the grate and having a spacetherein for fluid to be heated, said structure including an arcuate wallarranged above a portion of the perimeter of the grate and a chordalwall connecting the ends of said arcuate wall, whereby a combustionspace above an arcuate portion of the grate is defined, a substantiallyhorizontal wall member having a space therein for fluid to be heated andconnected to said chordal wall, said horizontal wall being disposedabove a second arcuate portion of the grate and having a fuel dischargeopening therein, a magazine for fuel secured to the chordal wall anddisposed above said horizontal wall member, said magazine having abottom sloping toward said fuel discharge opening for facilitating thedelivery of fuel through the opening and upon the grate, a mechanism forrotating the grate and disposed beneath a portion of the magazine, meansfor removing ash from the grate and arranged beneath the horizontal wallmember adjacent the fuel discharge opening and a casing for enclosingthe heating structure and the magazine.

6. In a mechanically fired heat generator, the combination of an annulargrate, a fluid heating structure associated with the grate and includingupper and lower portions; said lower portion including an outer wallarranged above the perimeter of the grate and having an ash dischargeopening formed therein and including a horizontal wall having a fueldischarge opening therein and connected to an arcuate portion of theouter Wall, said upper portion of the heating structure including anarcuate outer wall connected to the outer wall of the lower portion, andincluding a chordal wall connecting the ends of said arcuate wall, saidchordal wall being connected to the horizontal wall of said lowerportion of the heating structure; a container strum ture disposedadjacent the chordal wall and above said horizontal wall for defining amagazine for fuel, said container having a bottom which inclines fromadjacent the top of the chordal wall toward said fuel discharge openingso that fuel from the magazine is discharged by gravity through the fueldischarge opening and upon the grate, a device for rotating the gratedisposed adjacent the chordal wall and beneath said container structure,means for admitting fuel to the magazine and means for directing ashradially of the grate and through said fuel discharge onenmg.

7. In a mechanically fired heat generator, the combination of arotatable annular grate, a heating structure associated with the grateand having a space formed therein for fluid to be heated, said structuredefining a combustion space above an arcuate portion of the grate, amagazine disposed above a second arcuate portion of the grate for thegravitational feed of fuel thereto, a unitary mechanism including amotor for driving the grate and a blower for supplying air forcombustionthereto and means for detachably supporting the unitarymechanism beneath a portion of the fuel magazine and beside saidcombustion chamber.

8. In a mechanically fired heat generator, the combination of an annulargrate, a heating structure disposed above the grate and having a spacetherein for fluid to be heated, said. structure including an arcuatewall arranged above a portion of the perimeter of the grate, a wallconnecting the ends of the arcuate wall, an electric motor, a speedreducing device driven by said motor for driving the grate, a blower forsupplying air for combustion and driven by said motor, said motor, speedreducing device and blower being connected together for defining aunitary mechanism, and means for detachably supporting said unitarymechanism beside said connecting wall.

9. In a mechanically fired heat generator, the combination of arotatable annular grate, a fluid heating structure associated with thegrate, a magazine for fuel carried by said heating structure and havinga portion thereof above an armate portion of the grate for thegravitational feed of fuel to the grate, a motor device for driving thegrate and disposed at least in part beneath a portion of the fuelmagazine, means arranged beneath the fuel magazine for deflecting refusefrom the grate, a container for receiving the refuse deflected from thegrate, and a casing for enclosing the fluid heating structure, themagazine, the motor device and the container, said casing havingopenings therein for providing access to the refuse container, the fuelmagazine and the motor device, respectively.

10. In a mechanically fired heat generator, the combination of arotatable circular grate, 1a fluid heating structure associated with thegrate and including a substantially vertical front wall extendingtransversely of the grate and a rear wall extending upwardly from aportion of the perimeter of the grate and having ends thereof connectedto said front wall, said front and rear walls defining a combustionchamber above a rear portion of the grate, a magazine for fuel disposedadjacent to the outside of said front wall for delivering fuel bygravity to a front portion of the grate and means including a primemover for rotating the grate and disposed in front of the front wall andadjacent to the magazine.

11. In a mechanically fired heat generator, the combination of arotatable circular grate, a fluid heating structure associated with thegrate and including a substantially vertical front wall extendingtransversely of the grate and a rear wall extending upwardly from aportion of the perimeter of the grate and having ends thereof connectedto saidL front wall, said front and rear walls defining a combustionchamber above a rear portion of the grate, a magazine for fuel disposedadjacent to the outside of said front wall for delivering fuel bygravity to a front portion of the grate and a blower for supplying airfor combustion to the grate and disposed adjacent to the outside of saidfront wall.

12. In a mechanically fired heat generator, the combination of arotatable circular grate, a fluid heating structure associated with thegrate and including a substantially vertical front wall extendingtransversely of the grate and a rear Wall extending upwardly from aportion of the perimeter of the grate and having ends thereof connectedto said front wall, said front and rear walls defining a combustionchamber above a rear portion of the grate, a magazine for fuel disposedadjacent to the outside of said front wall for delivering fuel bygravity to a front portion of the grate, said magazine having portionsthereof extending beyond the perimeter of the grate, and a substantiallyhorizontal wall having a fluid space therein disposed between themagazine and the grate and including an opening for the passage of fuelfrom the magazine to the grate.

13. In a mechanically fired heat generator, the combination of a basemember having an air duct formed therein, a rotatable circular gratecarried by the base member, a fluid heating structure associated withthe grate and including a substantially vertical front wall extendingtransversely of the grate and a rear wall extending upwardly from aportion of the perimeter of the grate and having ends thereof connectedto said frontwall, said front and rear walls defining a combustionchamber above a rear portion of the grate, a magazine for fuel disposedadjacent to the outside of said front wall for delivering fuel bygravity to a front portion of the grate, and a blower disposed at leastin part in front'of the front wall for translating air for combustioninto said air duct.

14. In a mechanically fired heat generator, the combination of a basemember having an air duct formed therein, a rotatable circular gratecarried by the base member, a fluid heating structure associated withthe grate and including a substantially vertical front wall extendingtransversely of the grate and a rear wall extending upwardly from aportion of the perimeter of the grate and having ends thereof connectedto said front wall, said front and rear walls defining a combustionchamber above a rear portion of the grate, a magazine for fuel disposedadjacent to the outside of said front wall for delivering fuel bygravity to a front portion of the grate, and a unitary mechanismincluding a blower for translating air for combustion through said ductand including a device for actuating the grate, said unitaryrmechanismbeing disposed at least in part in front of the front Wall and besidesaid magazine.

15. In a fluid heating structure, for a rotatable circular grate, thecombination of an upstanding wall disposed adjacent the periphery of thegrate and encompassing the latter, the rear portion of said wallextending above the front portion thereof, whereby the upper part of therear portion of said wall extends about onlya portion of the grate, anupstanding second Wall disposed above the grate and joining the ends ofthe upper rear portion of the first wall, and a' third wall extendinggenerally in a horizontal direction and joining the upper end of thefront portion of the first Wall to the lower end of the second wall,said first, second and third walls defining a combustion chamber andsaid third wall'having a fuel opening therein located above the grate,and a fuel hopper disposed above the third wa1l= and having its lowerend connecting with said opening.

, 16. In a heat generator, the combination of a rotatable, circulargrate, a fluid heating structure disposed above a first portion ofthe'grate, a magazine for feeding fuel to the grate disposed above asecond portion of thelatter, means including a prime mover for rotatingthe grate and extending above a third portion ofthe latter and disposedadjacent to the fuel magazine and heating structure, and a fluid cooledwall member defining a portion of the fluid heating structure disposedintermediate the grate and the prime mover. V

17. In a mechanically fired heat generator, the

i combination of an annular grate, an arcuate and upstanding wallarranged above a portion of the perimeter of the grate and a secondupstanding wall extending across the grate between the ends 'ofcsaidarcuate wall and defining therewith a heating structure, said heatingstructure enclosing a space for fluid to be heated, and a device forrotating said grate located outside of the heating structure at a higherelevation than the grate and adjacent to the second wall.

and encompassing the latter, the rear portion of said wall extendingabove the front portion thereof, whereby the upper part of the rearportion of said wall extends about only a portion of the grate, anupstanding second wall disposed above the grate and joining the ends ofthe upper rear portion of the first wall, and a third wall extending ina transverse direction joining the upper end of the front portion of thefirst wall to the lower end of the second wall, said first,

second and third walls defining a combustion chamber.

ROBERT A. FORESMAN..

